And william b



Patented Sept.. 14, 192()` APPLICATION FILED IULY 3l, IQIL'` H. E. WADSWURTH AND W. B. ENSI( d/ d] Ex .mz/2%.. M/u.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY E. wAJJswonTH, or NEW Yoan, AND WILLIAM n. ENsIGN, or WHITE PLAINS, New YORK AUTOMATIC ELECTRICAL-CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

Application ledJuly 31, 1919. Serial No. 314,552.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we HARRY E. WanswoR'rH, a citizen of the nited States, and a resident of the borough of Bronx county of Bronx, city and State of New York, and WILLIAM B. ENsiGN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of White Plains, county of Westchester, and State of New l'ork, have invented certainnew and useful improvements in Automatic Electrical-Cin cuit Breakers, of which the following is a specification.

Uur improvements relate to means for automatically breaking and opening an electric circuit when a predetermined excess of current occurs; the object of our'invention being primarily to dispense with cut o ut fuses by providing a substitute therefor to be i positioned in like manner between tlieusual spring clip terminals; vto eifectually protect the operative parts and prevent tampering therewith; and to attain other practical` advantages hereafter set forth,a distinctive feature of our invention being the use of an inclosed electromagnetic switch latch or automatic circuit opener, to ether with means, also isolated and inclose in a casing conimon to all the operative parts, whereby said electro-magnetic switch latch may be re-set, (when our device is removed from between the terminal clips) without opening the casing, and by the simple expedient of reciprocating a portion thereof, substantially in the manner described and claimed herein.

Our present application involves a practical embodiment of the essential features of our invention 'in simple form, and with a minimum of operative parts; and we herein seek to cover broadly the principle invo1ved,-other concurrent applications being for specific combinations and arrangements of parts in which the saineprinciple is utilized.

In the accompanying drawings,-

Fi re l, is-an elevation of our improved circuit breaker, viewed externally;

Fi 2, is an elevation of one end thereof showing the connection with one form' of spring clip circuit terminal;

Fig. 3, is an elevation of the other end thereof, also showin its connection with a like spring clip circuit terminal;

Fig. 4, is a central longitudinalV sectional elevation upon a larger scale, showing the parts as set for use;

Fig. 5, is a like view, showing the relative position of the parts when the electric circuit is broken;

F 1g. 6, is a like view illustrating the re setting operation;

Fig. 7, is a sectional detail of one of the trip armatures;

Fig. 8, in an enlarged sectional detail showing the terminal contacts more clearly;

Fig. 9, is an elevation showing our dcviml supported by and between spring clip tei ininals of the knife blade type.

In the present instance the operative parts of our automatic circuit breaker are incloscd in a rigid cylindrical casing C, of insulating material of suitable character, the ends oi such housing being closed each by means of a metallic ferrule cap adapted for contactual engagement with the spring clip circuit ter initials usually provided for cut out fuses in a manner well known in the art. Thus, in the first six figures of the drawings the fer rule caps are adapted to fit peripherally into bifurcated spring clips as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, while Fig. 9 shows the feriule caps formed each with a knife blade for insertion between parallel spring contact clips.

The feriule caps F, F', are formed of :i nietal of suitable conductivity, and one, l", is a fixture upon its end of the casing C, bc ing rigidly attached thereto by any suitabley mechanical expedient,-wliile the other fer rule cap F', is movable within certain pre scribed limits on its end of said casing for the purpose of re-setting the operative parts as hereinafter set forth, after a break in the circuit. 1

The fixed ferrule cap F, forms the support upon which the electro-magnet M, (the wire wind of which is represented diagramniatically in Figs. 4, 5 and 6) is mounted axially in alinenient with the central longitudinal axis of the casing C. The construction of the electro-magnet shown in the drawings is by Way of exeniplification only, as we do not restrict our invention in this res ect, the essential feature in this connection eing the use of electro-magnetic means whereby a suitable switch latch may be tri ped to release an automatic cut out slide fir the purpose of opening an electric circuit. In the construction shown in the accompanying drawins/[one extremity of the core m, of the magnet is shouldered and screw threaded for engagement with the base plate m', of

tact bridge plate b, engages 4with both the 2 H f r .'":!U l ."r the magnet, and the ferrule cap F both of which are correspondingly female yscrew threaded for the purpose. The other or inner end of the core m, is also sl'iouldered, and has' rigidly sccuicd'to it the,lateral,N extension m", provided for the purpose ofH bringing the ield of ma netic influence within operative distance'o the 'trip' armatures a, switch latches, being each spring mounted in suchV manner, that they tend constantlyr to dog the cut, outslide S, ivhensaid islide is inA normal retracted position` as in Figsill and. 6.,- To this ,.end. theftrip .armatures a, e, are shown as mounted on the free ends of spring arms `.c,1.a, ,the ,Qthenegrtremities of which are rigidly secured to the baseplate mf, of the magnet M,-.it being understood of course that the corel-m, ,its basenn/g, and xlateral extension mare paramagnetic aswell as the trip arinaturesa, a, Obviously also, these spring mounted trip armatures V(1 a, may Abe supported luponany stationalyapart, as onjthe casingCLzif preferred, with. likerc- Suit :in S0 fnl'. as ,theiafulictiion andopelation is concerned. ,-(Ea'h, offtlietrip armaturesia, is preferably provided Vwith an anti-friction roller. aif,,as'showvngnoreV particularly in ,F ig. 7, to facilitatefcontactnalfengagement with, or disenga ement from, the innei` edge of the cutoutslieS.

.flhame-llio wireile surrounding the core-m, ispin electrical connection with the ferrule cap F, and (throughtlre longitudinal groove c) witlrfan annular metallic Contact plate c', which is -elnbe'dded, in the inner face of the casing C. Another annular metallic contact plate c2, is also eountersunk in part in the inner face ofthe cylindrical casing C, and is formed ivithelastic resilient tongues c3, which project beyond the end of the casing C, and contactq positively in an electrical sense with theferrulejcap .11". ABetween the adjacent edges of these two annular contact plates c', c2, interposed an annular shoulder c", of insulatingl ,inateriah preferably consisting of a part of the inner side'of the casing C, itself.` T hestuds c5, or .equivalent mechanical expediente used for the purpose of securing the resilient tongued contact plateycg, in position at theend of the casing C, may be also utilized to` limit the retractile movement of the cut outslide S, vas shown in Figs; 4, 6 and 8.

The said cut out slide S, is provided with` an annular Contact bridge plate b, positioned in a peripheral grooves, formed for it adjav cent to the rear edge of the slide. When the cut out slide S, is 1n normal, retracted 'position, as in Fifs. 4, 6 andi?, this annular conaforesaid annular contact plates c', c2, on the casingC, but straddles the intervening annular shoulder ,ct of ,insulating material, as also shown in 4,6 and 8. v-In Figs.l4, 5

rele. i

The latter canstitule automatic and 6, this contact bridge plate b, is indi- Gated syinbolically for convenience offillustration, but in Flg. 8, lit is shown on an eiilarged scale and cross sectioned. lt consists of amannularplate ol elastic resilient metal permanently belit and set transversely so thatlits medial portion will rest against the floor of the groove in which it is positioned on the cutl out .slide S, While its edges press outward, thus insuring positive contact with the surfaces to which they are opposed. Thus, vasbeiore intimated, 4When the cutout slide S, -isin retracted inormal position vas in F lgs/1, Grand y8, the contact Vbridge plate b, straddlesthefgap c?, and establishes electri* calconnection betweenthe contact plates c', and..,c2.i and hence, through the resilient tongues c3', ofthe latter,-With .the movable or ie-set errule capllf. i i

.N ormallyithe cut out slide S, is held indie retracted 'position by. the tripar-Inatures (nu, against the resistance of a breaker spring 8'., which tends, constantly. to i thrust the lcut yout slide4 S, towardthe. electro-magnetlli. This breaker sp1ing..s.=1,:is..interposed between a cross. member. saofntljie cut. out slide S, Vand a post f,.x)f neuf-conducting materialsecured rigidly and=aixially to the mo vable ferrule cap QF', andprojeeting throughthe end member s, ofthe-said slide S, which is also ofcourse (excepting the contact bridge plate b) .niadetof1 non-,conducting material. IA, shoulder/2, on,.itheferrule cap post f,af fords ineanswvhereby the cut out slide may be retractedatonormal. position after it lIras been .advancediinto the position shown in liv. 5. v i

ent holes Q), fv, fu, are formedin the cross members a2, s3, of they cut out slide S, and in the. end plateof the ferrule caprF, to ventilate -the interiorof the device and to facilitate the movelnent` of the said cut. out slide S, in either direction, and of the ferrule cap F inrevsetting.4 Y

The slidable ferrulcapfl", is heldin its normal ,position against4 the. pressure of the breaker springs',` 'bythe frictonal contact.

of the elastic .resilient tongues c3.

The operation of -ogunautomatic circuitl breaker is as follows.

The partis. bengset-asin Fig. 4,. anditlie device mounted between-.the cllpterminals. T, T, of an electric circuit as beforefinti-f mated, an excess of load-to which, the coil e, m'; be subjected willfenergze lthallia@- net sufiicientlgnto cause itto pull the trip ,ar-matures, a, ia, againstthe resistance 0f .their spring supportati', .aa-f, from Contact With the inner edgeffothe cutout slide S,

when the.breaken,sprnig s', `will Ainstanliliy 1 thrust saidfslidefS, .mwerd'th ma' .et

until the rear :ONSS-member s?, ,of v t e .slide rests against-theishqulder f2, .of-the POS# f- In` other words,.th.e pants assuming 'the por, sition shown in Fig. 5.

At the@ very ineep.

tion of this forward thrust of the cut out slide S, however its contact bridge plate'b, leaves the ferrule contact plate c2, and passes over the annular gap shoulder c, of insulation, thereby breaking the electric circuit instantaneously to all practical intents and purposes, and thus immediately obviating danger.

To re-set the device, it is removed from between the circuit clip terminals T, T, and the movable ferrule cap F', is drawn outward into the position shown in Fig. 6, thereby causin the post f', to retract the cut out slide to its original position at rest against the studs c5, 05,' when their spring supports a a', cause the latch armatures a, a, to spring into position to again dog the advance of the slide S, with its contact bridge plate b, again closing the electric circult by its bearing against both of the contact plates c', and 02. The return of the re-set ferrule cap F to its normal position again compresses the breaker spring s', as in Fig. 4, and the device is again ready for use.

It will be seen that all the operative parts of our automatic circuit breaker are inclosed, isolated and protected from contact with extraneous objects, and that they .cannot to be tampered with nor improperly manipulated while the incasement remains intact. It is an eifectual substitute for the blow out fuse, with the great advantage that it can be re-set and used indefinitely; and the act of re-setting simply involves its removal from between the circuit terminal clips and the reciprocal movement of the ferrule cap F', after which it is ready for replacement in operative position.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

l. Au automatic electric circuit breaker of the character designated, comprising a casing of insulating material, metallic 'errule caps formed externally for contactual engagement with electric circuit terminal spring clips, fixed electric contacts connected one with each of said ferrule caps, movable means for electrically connecting said fixed electric contacts, means which tend constantly to open the circuit, switch latch mechanism controlled by an electromagnet, said electro-magnet having its coil interposed in the electric circuit when the latter is closed, and ferrulecap-connected means for resetting the parts after a break.

2. An automatic electric circuit breaker of the character designated, comprising a casing of insulating material, metallic ferrule caps inclosing the otherwise open ends thereof and formed externally for contactual engagement with electricvcircuit termi nal spring clips, an electro-magnet one end of the coil of which is electrically connected .with a iixed ferrule cap and the other with a fixed contact in the casin another fixed contact in the said casing e ectrically lconnected with the other ferrule cap which is reciprocally movable, a movable bridge contact adapted to en age with and electrically connect both o said fixed contacts, means which tend constantly to break this electric connection, switch latch mechanism controlled by the magnet and means for resetting the parts after a break by the reciprocation of said movable ferrule cap, for the purpose described.

3. An automatic electric circuit breaker of the character designated, comprising a casing of insulating material, metallic ferrule caps inclosing the otherwise open ends thereof and formed externally for contactual engagement with electric circuit terminal spring clips, an electro-magnet one end of the coil of which is electrically connected with a fixed ferrule cap and the other with a fixed contact in the casing, another fixed contact in the said casing electrically connected with the other ferrule cap which is reciprocally movable, a cut out slide having a bridge contact plate adapted to engage with and electrically connect both of said fixed contacts, means which tend constantly to thrust said slide and its bridge contact plate out of. operative connection with said fixed contacts, switch latch mechanism controlled by the magnet, and means for re-setting the parts after a break by the reciprocation of the movable ferrule cap, for the purpose described.

HARRY E. WADSWORTH. WILLIAM B. EN SIGN.

Witnesses:

Gmo. WM. MIATT, DOROTHY MIAIT. 

